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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

paypal

I didn't know there was a fee with paypal.

Can this be used?

I'm saying that I didn't know there's a fee for using paypal.
  

Top answer

PreciousJones........... I didn't know there's a fee for using P ay P al.

— Canadian45

  • PreciousJones...........
  • I didn't know there's a fee for using P ay P al.
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11 Answers
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PreciousJones...........I didn't know there's a fee for using PayPal. Emotion: yes
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PreciousJonesI didn't know there was a fee with paypal.
Backshifting is optional. I'd probably use it, even though we know that the fee still exists today.

(Reported thought works like reported speech.)
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PreciousJonesI didn't know there was a fee with paypal.Can this be used?
Yes. We almost always use the past tense in a clause after "I knew", "I didn't know", "I thought", and "I didn't think".

CJ
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CalifJim We almost always use the past tense in a clause after "I knew", "I didn't know", "I thought", and "I didn't think".CJ
It's one of the irrational aspects of the English language.
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canadian45It's one of the irrational aspects of the English language.
Perhaps. But where language is concerned, tradition seems to trump logic in every case.
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CalifJim Perhaps. But where language is concerned, tradition seems to trump logic in every case. CJ in most cases, yes
But then you have incompatabilities like the following.

A. "I am working in construction now."
B. A said he was working in construction now.
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canadian45But then you have incompatabilities like the following.A. "I am working in construction now."B. A said he was working in construction now.
I guess I don't get your point. I'd say that B's remark is unremarkable.

CJ
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canadian45A. "I am working in construction now."
B. A said he was working in construction now.
You can always use, "He says he is working in construction now." (She says she sells seashells.)

And there's always direct speech: Last year he said to me, "I am working in construction now."

Edit. I s
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AvangiYou can always use, "He says he is working in construction now." I see no problem at all in saying 'He said he is working in construction now.' I see no need to backshift or to otherwise match tenses. To me, backshifting is one of English's bad habits.
He said he was working in construction these days would be more fo
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canadian45To me, backshifting is one of English's bad habits.
Naughty, naughty English. Let's give it a good spanking.

CJ
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